'Go to bed, Henry,' Mary said quietly. 'You need your rest'.
Sherman hesitated again, then moved to the door. He paused and looked at her. Her cold, hard eyes fixed his.
'Go to bed, Henry,' she repeated.
Sherman left the lounge. He moved slowly like an old man moving to his bed, directed by his nurse. She listened to him mount the stairs and the slight creak of the floorboards as he moved into his bedroom.
For sometime, she sat staring out of the window, watching the sun rising, heralding a new day. Her face was stony, only the glitter in her eyes hinted at the turmoil that was going on in her mind.
Finally, she reached for the telephone. She asked the operator to connect her with Georges V hotel, Paris.
* * *
A black Thunderbird drew up under the canopy of the Georges V hotel and the doorman stepped forward to open the car door.
Lu Silk slid out.
'Park it... I won't be long,' he said curtly and walked into the lobby. He crossed to the concierge who was standing behind his desk.
'Mr Radnitz,'Silk said.
The concierge had seen Silk several times. He knew him to be a man who didn't tip and was disagreeable to the staff.
The concierge inclined his head coldly, picked up a telephone receiver, spoke briefly, then said to Silk, 'Fourth floor, monsieur, suite 457.'
Silk sneered at him.
'As if I didn't know.' He turned and walked towards the elevators.
Lu Silk (see 'Believed Violent') was Herman Radnitz's professional killer: a tall, lean man in his early forties with a hatchet-shaped face, a glass left eye and a white scar running down the side of his left cheek. His crewcut hair was white. He wore a dark flannel suit that fitted him well, and he carried a black slouch hat in his hand. He had worked for Radnitz now for some years. When Radnitz wished to get rid of anyone
troublesome, he called for Silk. For $ 15,000 as a killing fee and $30,000 as a yearly retainer whether he worked or not, Lu Silk made a satisfactory living.
He arrived on the fourth floor and rang the bell of suite 457. The door was opened by Ko-Yu, Radnitz's Japanese servant and chauffeur.
'Hi,' Silk said as he entered. 'The old man waiting for me?'
Ko-Yu regarded Silk, his face expressionless, his manner distant.
' Mr Radnitz is expecting you.'
Silk went into the big, luxuriously furnished sitting-room where Radnitz was at his desk, dictating to his secretary, Fritz Kurt, a small, thin man who glanced up as Silk came in.
Radnitz broke off his dictation and waved Kurt away. There was a moment's pause while Kurt left the room, then Radnitz said, T have work for you.'
'That's easy to guess.' Silk was in awe of no man, and he never showed any respect when talking to Radnitz. He was the only member of Radnitz's staff who wasn't a 'Yes-man'. He sat down and crossed one leg over the other. 'Who is it this time?'
'You are ready to travel immediately?'
'Of course. I always keep a bag in the car. Where to?'
'Munich.' Radnitz opened a brief-case and took from it a bulky envelope. 'Here are your instructions with your ticket and travellers cheques. You are to get rid of two people. A girl: Gillian Sherman. A man: Pierre Rosnold. There is a photograph of the girl here, but I have no photograph of the man, but they will be together. This is important, Silk. You will receive thirty thousand dollars when I know they have been eliminated.'
Silk got up, crossed to the desk and took the envelope Radnitz was offering him. He returned to his chair, sat down and removed the contents of the envelope. He paused to study the photograph of Gillian Sherman. Her beauty had no effect on him. For more years than he could remember, Silk had lost interest in women. He read through two typewritten pages of instructions, then he looked up.
'I don't hit them until these films are recovered? How do I know when they are recovered?'
'This man Girland will get them. He will be constantly watched You don't have to worry about that. Your job is to get rid of these two when you are told to go ahead.'.
'How do you want this arranged?'
Radnitz selected a cigar from a cedar, gold-topped box.
'An accident. . . perhaps a hunting accident?'
'The two of them?' Silk shook his head. 'No... one of them could be shot by mistake, but not two of them. The German police aren't stupid.'
Radnitz shrugged impatiently. Small details always bored him.
'I leave it to you. I have a place near Oberammergau. I have a good man there and I have already alerted him. He will do everything that is necessary. His name is Count Hans von Goltz. You will be met at the Munich airport and taken to my place. By that time, von Goltz will have information for you. You need take no weapons. There is everything you may need at my place. I have some thirty good men who look after the estate. You can use them if you want them.'
Silk put the envelope in his pocket and got to his feet.
'I'd better get off if I'm to catch the 14.00 hr. plane.'
'Be careful of Girland,' Radnitz warned. 'He is dangerous.'
Silk showed his even white teeth in a vicious smile.
'I'll watch it,' he said and left the suite
Because Mary Sherman had forgotten to tell Radnitz that now the Russians were also involved in this hunt for the daughter of the future President, Silk left the Georges V hotel thinking he had only Girland to deal with. Had he known that he was to come up against not only Girland, but Malik as well, he would have been less confident he was on to easy money as he drove his Thunder bird towards Orly airport.
* * *
Feeling slightly jaded, Girland passed through the Customs barrier at the Munich airport and made his way across the big hall to the Hertz Rental car service. Seeing where he was going, Labrey who had been following him, paused. He had little money to spare. There was no question of his hiring a car. His Soviet masters were tight with money. He watched Girland as he talked to the girl clerk.
Girland showed his Hertz Credit Card and told the girl, a pretty blonde, he wanted a Mercedes 230.
'Yes, sir,' the girl said. 'How long will you need it, do you think?'
I don't know.' Girland found the girl attractive. 'It depends on how much I like your country. If it's as lovely as you are, I might spend the rest of my days here.'
The girl giggled and blushed.
'Shall we say... a week?'
'Leave it open ... I don't know.' Girland leaned on the counter while she completed the form, then he signed it.
'I'll get the car for you, sir.' She used the telephone and then hung up. 'In five minutes, sir.' She looked adoringly at him as she smiled. 'The exit door is to your right.'
'Thank you.'
They exchanged glances, then feeling considerably revitalised, Girland left the airport and stood waiting in the pale sunshine for the car to arrive.
'Excuse me, sir,' a voice said at his side. 'Would you be going to Garmisch?'
Girland turned. Standing by his side was a talLthin young man with long blond hair and wearing green tinted sunglasses. He had a rucksack on his back.
'Sure,' Girland said. 'Do you want a lift?'
T was hoping for one,' Labrey said, 'but I don't want to push myself onto you.'
